Manejo quirúrgico del incidentaloma suprarrenal / Surgical management of adrenal incidentaloma

Background: The adrenal incidentaloma is a lesion found on imaging studies for diagnosis of non-adrenal disorders. Most of these patients are not of surgical treatment. Our objective was to describe the clinical features and results of surgical management of adrenal incidentalomas in the Hospital de la Universidad de Chile. Material and Methods: Retrospective descriptive study. Period 2000 to 2009. Information was gathered from medical records and biopsies registers of patients with operated adrenal incidentaloma. Results: We evaluated 24 patients undergoing surgery, 66.7 percent female, 58.3 percent between 41 and 70 years. 58.3 percent were found in the study of abdominal pain. Surgical indications were: size ≥ 4 cm, enlarged in controls, atypical features in the abdominal and pelvic CT and/or functionality. 54.2 percent were ≥ 4 cm, 16.7 percent increase in size in controls, 45.8 percent had atypical features in the abdominal and pelvic CT and 33.3 percent were functioning, being the most frequent hypercortisolism. In 87.5 percent of patients the approach was laparoscopically. The morbidity was 12.6 percent (pneumonia, wound infection and stroke) and perioperative mortality was 0 percent. Discussion: The adrenal incidentaloma is a rare indication for surgery of adrenal tumors. Before the intervention should be studies in order to evaluate functionality and suspicion of malignancy. Functionating tumors and suspicious of malignancy should be resected, being the laparoscopic approach the election, likely in most cases.

Introducción: El incidentaloma suprarrenal es aquella lesión encontrada como hallazgo en estudios imagenológicos para el diagnóstico de desórdenes no suprarrenales. La gran mayoría de esos pacientes no son de resorte quirúrgico. Nuestro objetivo es describir las características clínicas y resultados del manejo quirúrgico de los incidentalomas suprarrenales operados en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo. Período 2000-2009. Se obtuvo información de fichas clínicas y registro de biopsias de los pacientes operados por incidentaloma suprarrenal. Resultados: Se evaluaron 24 pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente, el 66,7 por ciento sexo femenino, el 58,3 por ciento entre los 41 y los 70 años. El 58,3 por ciento se pesquisaron durante el estudio de dolor abdominal. Las indicaciones quirúrgicas fueron: tamaño ≥ 4 cm, aumento de tamaño en controles, características atípicas en la TC abdomino-pelviana y/o la funcionalidad. El 54,2 por ciento fueron ≥ de 4 cm, 16,7 por ciento aumento de tamaño en controles, 45,8 por ciento tenía características atípicas en la TC abdomino-pelviana y 33,3 por ciento fueron funcionantes, siendo lo más frecuente el hipercortisolismo. El 87,5 por ciento de los pacientes se abordaron por vía laparoscópica. La morbilidad fue de 12,6 por ciento (neumonía, infección de herida operatoria y AVE) y la mortalidad peri operatoria fue de 0 por ciento. Discusión: El incidentaloma suprarrenal es una indicación infrecuente de cirugía de tumores suprarrenales. Antes de la intervención deben estudiarse con el propósito de evaluar funcionalidad y sospecha de malignidad. Los tumores funcionantes y sospechosos de malignidad deben ser resecados, siendo la vía laparoscópica la de elección, factible en la gran mayoría de los casos.

Mecanismos fisiopatológicos de la diabetes mellitus 2 / Physiopathological mechanisms of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Classically, it has been attributed to muscle and liver insulin resistance (IR) the main responsibility in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). To date, several authors have shown the involvement of other components in its progression. The adipose tissue plays an importantrole for the increase in circulating free fatty acids due to enhanced lipolysis, which results in increased liver and muscle IR. Incretins, secreted in small bowel, potentiate insulin secretionin response to the ingestion of fat and carbohydrate. In type 2 diabetic subjects, it has been demonstrated alterations in its levels. In the diabetic kidney, increases in SGLT2 transporterexpression, enhances glucose reabsorption. Also in the brain, IR could be manifested, determining changes in appetite and satiety regulation. Finally, increased levels of glucagon and the progression of beta cell failure, determine the onset of hyperglycemia. The mechanism through each of them determines IR and progression to DM2 are reviewed.

Diagnóstico actual y alternativas de tratamiento médico en diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Actual diagnosis and medical treatment alternatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The goal of the therapy in type 2 diabetes is defined according to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, which reflects chronic hyper glycemia. In 2009, an acceptable metabolic control was defined as HbA1c <7 percent. But recently, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) released a consensus position onpersonalized HbA1c goals, centered in the patient. Available therapies to treat and control type 2 diabetes are reviewed; traditional therapies as metformin, sulfonylureas, and insulin and new therapies as GLP-1 analogues and DPP-4 inhibitors.

Coexistencia de hiperparatiroidismo primario y carcinoma diferenciado del tiroides en tres casos clínicos / Coexistence of a primary hyperparathyroidism and a differentiated thyroid carcinoma: report of three cases

In 15 percent of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism subjected to parathyroid surgery, a coexistent differentiated thyroid carcinoma is found. We report three female patients aged 57, 53 and 57 years with a primary hyperparathyroidism and ultrasonographic thyroid nodules. During parathyroid surgery, a thyroidectomy was performed, confirming the presence of a differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Two patients had a microcarcinoma measuring 1 and 2 mm diameter and other had a follicular thyroid carcinoma, and parathyroid carcinom whose association with primary hyperparathyoidism is even more uncommon.

Cirugía metabólica: ¿una nueva alternativa para el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2? / Metabolic surgery: new alternative for diabetes mellitus type 2?

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a global epidemic. Classical studies have demonstrated the benefits of tight glycemic control, showing a decrease in complications and mortality. Current therapy based on changes in lifestyle and medication accomplishes these goals in an insufficient number of patients. Follow up of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery has shown us a significant reduction in overweight and control comorbidities. In diabetic patients, there is adequate glycemic control, decreased insulin resistance, and decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin.The pathophysiological mechanisms that explain these effects are being studied, and includes benefits associated with significant and sustained weight loss, and mechanisms independent of weight loss that appear early after surgery. The latter would be due to changes in GI anatomy induced by surgery, including activation of the entero insular axis, exclusion of the foregut, and stimulation of the distal ileum with enhanced incretin production. Since the surgery seems to have an effect on diabetes that is primary, specific and independent of weight loss, authors have suggested de idea of extending surgical indication to diabetic patients with BMI <35. Initial surgical experience in this group of patients show encouraging results, however, at this point there is insufficient data to generalize its indication. The results of on going surgical protocols will help to clarify the role of surgery in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in patients with BMI <35.

Métodos de medición de la sensibilidad a la insulina y otros parámetros relacionados: correlación con la clínica / Methods to measure insulin sensitivity in the clinical setting: an update

Insulin resistance appears in several pathological conditions but unfortunately a simple, low cost, reproducible and easy to perform method to measure it isstill lacking. This method should resemble as closely as possible the physiological response to insulin and should be able to evaluate the sensitivity to the hormone of different tissues and systems. We herein analyze the factors that modify basal insulin determinations and the different methods available to measure insulin resistance.

Consenso elaborado por la Sociedad Chilena de Endocrinología y Diabetes sobre resistencia a la insulina(RI) y síndrome metabólico (SM): aspectos clínicos y terapéuticos / Chilean society of endocrinology and diabetes consensus on clinical and therapeutic aspects of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome

Background: The concept insulin resistance as the basis for a series of metabolic alterations and diseases was introduced by Gerald Reaven in 1988, when he described a cluster of alterations that named syndrome X. Aim: To review and discuss the present information about insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and methods: The IR concept is defined,the affected metabolic ways, its consequences and relationship with different diseases are presented. The importance of central obesity with its metabolic, inflammatory and prothrombotic consequences playing a key role in cardiovascular risk, is discussed. The cluster of factors focused on cardiovascular disease and eventually diabetes is named MS. Several definitions of MS are analyzed and compared. A proposition is made about the definition to be used in the Chilean population. Differences between IR syndrome and MS are discussed. Diagnostic methods of IR and MS are presented, recommendations are made about their usefulness and reliability. Non pharmacological and pharmacological treatments of IR and MS are analyzed. Other related diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, non alcoholic steatohepatitis and sleep apnea are discussed. Conclusions. Until further studies are made to define a local waist circumference cut-off associated with high risk, the ATPIII MS definition is preferred. A clinical approach is recommended for diagnosis. A search for all components of the MS is important. There is no evidence about the benefits of MS treatment on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. Evidence supports the use of lifestyle changes and some drugs, such as metformin on the prevention of diabetes in prediabetic states.

Valores normales de captación de 131Yodo de 2 y 24 horas / Normal 131Iodine uptake values at 2 ano 24 hours

Background: Radiolabeled iodine uptake is a useful tool in the study of thyroid diseases. Aim: To obtain normal values for 131 Iodine thyroid uptake in healthy volunteers. Material and methods: A total of 105 subjects were included (52 males and 53 females), with a mean age of 45 years (range: 20 to 68, evenly distributed in decades). A questionnaire was applied and a clinical examination was performed to rule out endocrine diseases. Serum TSH and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies were also measured. The oral 131I dose was 5-10 fiCi, and a Thyrad equipment was used for measurements at 2 and 24 h. Results: Mean global iodine uptake was 5.5 percent±1.8 percent (range: 2.3-12.0) at 2 h and 16.2±4.8 percent (range: 6.5-30.1) at 24 h. The values at 2 h among women and men were 6.0±1.8 and 4.9±1.6 percent, respectively, (p <0.02). At 24 h, the figures were 17.3±4.5 and 15.0±4.9 percent, respectively (p =0.01). Compared to their younger counterparts, radioactive iodine uptake was lower among volunteers older than 40 years, at 2 h (5.0±1.7 and 6.0±1.8, respectively, p <0.02) and at 24 h (14.9±4.4 and 17.6±4.9 percent, respectively, p <0.01). Conclusions: Normal thyroid uptake values in adults are influenced bygender and age. Normal thyroid iodine uptake values are slightly higher in females. Iodine thyroid uptake values decrease slightly in subjects aged more than 40years.

Caso clínico: síndrome poliglandular autoinmune tipo II, forma de presentación en un paciente adulto / Clinical case: autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II, presentation in adult patient

Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome (APS) type II or Schmidt`s Syndrome is diagnosed when a patient has adrenocortical deficiency with type 1 diabetes mellitus, chronic lymphocyticthyroiditis, or Graves’ disease. The disease commonly manifests in the third or fourth decade. We present the case of a 45 yo male patient who manifested simultaneously at the moment of diagnosis, clinical and laboratory features of hypothyroidism, pernicious anemia and Addison disease. We discuss etiologic, clinical and biochemical aspects in type II APS.